Longmont Lawnmowing Tips

The lawn mowing season is in full swing (no pun intended). For some it is very relaxing others a major chore. Either way here are some tips to save your back while keeping your lawn looking good. Remove all obstacles from your path Make sure you have plenty of room to turn around Keep wrists and back straight keep knees slightly bent When Emptying the bag use your legs not your back to bend Try not to over do it. If it is too hot wait until it cools down If you do run into trouble and tweak you back, call you Longmont Chiropractor and get some help. Yours in Health, Dr. Lou www.cavallochiropractic.com

Driving in ice and snow

The past couple of days we have been seeing an increase of auto accident patients due to the icy roads. Here are a few tips to help you through the winter months. If you do not feel comfortable driving in bad conditions don’t. Stay home. Make sure you clear all the windows on your car before you leave your house. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seat belt Go easy on your brakes Watch your speed, there is no need to be racing around in the ice or snow If you begin to slide turn your wheel in the direction the rear of the car is sliding If you are unfortunately involved in a motor vehicle accident, get checked. Whiplash can lead to other long term problems in the spine.

Low Back Pain

Lower back pain accounts for one of the most common reasons people go to see the doctor. Although the pain can come on sudden and severe, the problem its self has most likely been going on for quite some time. Whether it is due to prolonged sitting or repetitive motions, through time the spinal muscle and joints can become fatigued. Something as little as a sneeze or lifting a pen off the floor can cause the back to go out of alignment and go into muscles spasms. Chiropractors are well trained to diagnose and treat this type of condition. Chiropractors treat the cause of the back pain, not merely just treat the symptoms. Dr. Cavallo is the only chiropractor in Longmont, Colorado trained to use the gravitational pattern alignment technique. Using this technique, Dr. Cavallo is able to see the faulty patterns in the spine and lower extremities and make proper corrections. Using GPA and showing our patients proper ergonomics and back exercises we are able to help keep our patients functioning at their optimal capacity. Why keep suffering with back pain? Call us today to schedule a free consultation and get rid of that back pain today!

Spring finally here!

Well spring has finally sprung here in Longmont, Colorado. This is the time when yard work and weekend sports start. This is also a time we start to see more injuries in our office. Take the time to warm up and stretch before starting your spring activities. If you need help starting and stretching program or if you are feeling stiff and sore. Please call out office and we will take care of you. Yours in health, Dr. Lou

Gravitational Pattern Alignment

I have been a chiropractor for almost 20 years now. The one thing I enjoy the most is learning new methods and techniques to better serve my patients. Over a month ago, I was fortunate enough to take a class on a technique called Gravitational Pattern Alignment. It was taught by an amazing chiropractor Dr. Nelson Vetanze who has over 44 years of experience treating some pretty high profile athletes. Here is Dr. Vetanze’s explanation of Gravitational Pattern Alignment: “The basic concept of the GPA Chiropractic Technique (Gravitational Pattern Alignment) is based on Newton’s Third Law of nature and its effect on the human body. When any body part is out of alignment, gravity immediately forces the body to rebalance creating distortions throughout the musculoskeletal chain. Additionally, our eyes are designed to remain horizontal and the brain makes proprioceptive responses to hold the eyes level causing a profound impact on how the body compensates against gravity. The combination of misalignment, gravity, and level eyes will compound even a minor misalignment, taking a gradual, and increasing, toll on body parts and symptoms that may not appear for weeks or even years. The theory of GPA is to achieve and maintain the.

Tips for Raking Leaves

Fall has arrived here in Longmont, Colorado. As many of you get the rakes and bags out to clean up your yard, here are some tips to protect your back. 1. Warm up and stretch before you start raking the yard. 2. Try to avoid twisting your spine when you rake. Also try to bend forward at the spine, bend at the hips. 3. Make small piles, this will make bagging easy and will save straining you back. 4. Wear a good pair of gloves to avoid blisters 5. Take frequent breaks 6. Drink plenty of water If you would like a pre/post raking stretching regime contact the office we would be more then happy to get one to you. Good luck raking, and if you need us give us a call. Yours in Health, Dr. Lou

Shoulder Injuries

Recently in the office we have been seeing quite a bit of shoulder injuries. They have ranged from rotator cuff tears all the way to frozen shoulder. I would like to briefly explain the anatomy of the shoulder so that you may better understand how some of these injuries occur, how we can treat them, and how you can prevent them. If you look at the image below, it shows the bones of the shoulder joint. You have the humerus, the clavicle and the scapula. The shoulder is what is considered a true “Ball in Socket” joint. This joint is very mobile in order to allow us to be able to put our arms and hands in almost any position. Because of the mobility, we sacrifice stability and this is one of the reasons this area is highly susceptible to injury. Next we have the muscles of the rotator cuff. These are the muscles that are commonly referred to when we discuss rotator cuff tears. The are four major rotator cuff muscles. The acronym for them is S.I.T.S. The muscle are the Supraspinatus, the Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis. These muscle help keep the ball in the socket and help.

Restless Leg Syndrome

We have all heard this term, but what does it mean? According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders it is defined as ” Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by throbbing, pulling, creeping, or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them. Symptoms occur primarily at night when a person is relaxing or at rest and can increase in severity during the night. Moving the legs relieves the discomfort. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. According to that same site, there is no real no known cause for RLS. Many doctors speculate that it has to do with numerous imbalances of the nervous system. Most common treatment for RLS is medication. Most patients treated via medication for RLS receive very little relief. Many patients suffer so bad that they can not sleep due to the burning sensations in their legs. So what are patients with RLS suppose to do? Try Chiropractic! Chiropractors help to restore balance back to the nervous system, by removing interference and irritation of the nerve. Many patients in.

Achilles Tedonitis

The start of Spring also means the start of out door running for many of us here in Longmont, Colorado. I am already seeing running injuries this soon in the year so I would like to talk about one that is really affecting some of my new patients. It is Achilles Tendonitis. Pictured in the image below, Achilles tendonitis is inflammation and swelling of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is where the muscles the muscles of the calf insert into the back of the heel. In face the Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. Typically what happens is an increase in running, starting running after a long dormant period, old shoes, or running on new terrain, causes tightness of the calf muscles. As the calf gets tighter it pulls on the Achilles tendon which causes more inflammation and irritation. Soon this repetitive strain causes pain, swelling, and a difficulty walking and/or running. If let untreated it will worsen. Some runners start to develop a visible bump on the back of their heel from the inflammation and scar tissue. As the condition worsens the patient is left unable to run. It can also cause issues in the.

Golf Injury

Although it is still technically winter, Spring is upon us. As many of you know we can golf in Longmont almost all year round. As we start to dust off our clubs and get ready for the upcoming golf season, old and new golf injuries can start to appear. Stretching and keeping flexibility are important not only to prevent injury, but will also help to improve your swing and distance on the ball. Did you know that if the muscles on the side of your thighs are too tight, this can cause you to rotate too quickly into your shot. Which can lead you to come over the top of the ball? A simple evaluation and stretching program will help to improve your flexibility and improve your game. If you do injure yourself while golfing, it is important to make sure that these injuries heal correctly and as close to 100% as possible. The most common type of injuries in golf are sprain/strain type soft tissue injuries. In layman terms these are injuries to the muscles, ligaments and/or tendons. The important thing to remember with these soft tissue injuries is to get them to heal correctly and fast. When the.

Winter Storm Coming

We have all been watching the forecast, and it looks like Longmont and Boulder County are going to get hit with some snow this weekend. Since it is the weekend, try to avoid driving as best as you can. This type of storm can make driving a nightmare and we typically see more motor vehicle accidents during the duration of the snow storm. If you are involved in an accident, be sure to get your injuries checked out by a chiropractor. The sooner you can get under chiropractic care following an accident, the quicker you injury will resolve. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident have them call our office for a check up.

Plantar Fasciitis

With spring quickly approaching us in Longmont, Colorado, we all will start to resume more outdoor activities like running, cycling and golf. With the increase in these activities, can be an increase in problems with our musculoskeletal system. One of the most common issues I see and can help with is plantar fasciitis, simply put pain in the foot and lower leg. Sometimes this can be cause by issues of the foot, the arch of the foot drops and due to the lack of support the muscles of the bottom of the foot tighten and become inflamed. Another possible cause is tightness in the muscles of the calf. When either one of these occur, the biomechanics of the lower extremity are effected and can cause dysfunction of the leg, hip and spine. Simply correcting the issue, will decrease the pain, increase the range of motion, and increase function. This is usually accomplished by utilizing cold laser therapy, soft tissue work, adjustments, and home exercises. With this approach many patients are able to resume normal activities pain free. If you or someone you know is suffering with plantar fasciitis, please have them call the office at 303-678-8555 or shoot us an.

Longmont Cold Laser Therapy

Chronic Pain and Cold Laser Lately we have been seeing a lot of chronic pain patients in our office. Many have been from patient and other doctor’s referrals. Many of these patients have tried years of medications, surgeries, or even other chiropractors before finding us. They are all amazed how quickly their pain resolves after a few cold laser treatments. Many have had questions on how this therapy works, and why it works so well so I figured I would write a quick blog about how it works. Low Level Laser Therapy or LLLT has been around for many years. LLLT was first FDA cleared in 2004 for the non surgical treatment of carpal tunnel, and since then has been used for numerous musculoskeletal conditions. The cells of the body absorb the light and frequencies from the LLLT and this helps to increase cellular regeneration and increase cellular communication. The part of the cell that the LLLT helps to stimulate is the mitochondria. The mitochondria is the engine or powerhouse of the cell. The more efficient that it is the quicker the cell can repair itself. By stimulating the mitochondria via LLLT, the cell is able to decrease harmful inflammation.

The Mighty Psoas Muscle

One of the biggest factors in lower back pain, and hip pain is the Psoas muscle. It is a very important muscle, and dysfunction of it can lead to low back pain, hip pain, knee pain, and even forward head posture. Dysfunction of this muscle can also lead to biomechanical issues like leg length discrepancies, pelvic tilt issues, and an increase in the lumbar lordosis. The Psoas muscle is actually two muscles that come together and form one common insertion. This muscle originates from the lower thoracic spine all the way down to the last lumbar vertebrae. It connects not only to the vertebrae but also to the disc. It then descends to insert on the inner portion of the femur bone onto the lesser trochanter. Its job is to help flex the hip and to stabilize and balance the trunk. Chronic shortening of this muscle can lead to some serious issues and pain. Prolonged sitting and stress are some of the main reasons this muscle gets tight and shortened. The tighter this muscle gets the more it will pull on the vertebrae and compress the disc. This can eventually lead to arthritis and tearing and bulging of the disc..

Backpack Safety

It is hard to believe, but summer is almost over and school is ready to begin. As the new school year starts here in Longmont, Colorado, parents start to shop for school supplies. One of these supplies is the backpack. Backpacks are a practical way for students to carry their school supplies and books to and from school. They can however cause injury to the joints, muscles and ligaments of the spine, if not worn correctly. As a chiropractor here are some tips to avoid backpack injuries to the spine: Choose a backpack that is light weight Choose a backpack that has a padded back and straps Choose a backpack that has wheels Make sure you carry the backpack on both shoulders Do not over pack you backpack keep it light Do Not carry more then 10-15% of your body weight in the backpack Keep the straps tight and close to your back These are just a couple of quick tips to try to prevent spinal injuries. Please feel free to come by our office and have us check your child’s backpack. Proper use of a backpack can prevent spinal injuries and help to keep your child’s spine in.

The Sacroiliac Joint and Pregnancy

Lately in our office we have been seeing a lot of women in their second and third trimester with lower back pain. Typically in these trimesters the body releases a hormone called relaxin. This hormone helps the pubic spread during child labor. This hormone affects all the joints of the body, especially the joints of the lower back and sacroiliac joints. This can cause women in the second and third trimester a great deal of back pain and discomfort. Chiropractic care and sacroiliac joint stabilization belts can be a great way to help alleviate this pain and give them relief without the use of drugs that can affect the unborn baby. If you have a friend or loved one experiencing lower back or sacroiliac pain from pregnancy, have them give us a call. We would love to help them.

Spondylolisthesis

From time to time, patients ask me about a specific topic and have asked me to elaborate of the topic. Most of the time is about a friend or loved on and not themselves. For this reason I decided to start a topic of the week. You can either comment in this blog, comment on our Facebook page, or ask us in the office about a topic you would like us to talk about. This week’s topic is Spondylolisthesis. This is a forward displacement of the vertebrae. It can occur anywhere in the spine, but it is most commonly found in the lower back AKA the lumbar spine. They are most commonly caused by a repetitive type stress fracture in a child or an acute trauma to the spine. Below is a side view of a lumbar vertebra. The location of the arrow is called the pars interarticularis. This is where we typically find the defect. How severe a Spondylolisthesis is depends on the grade. The Grading system is from I-IV, with IV being the worst. This are typically diagnosed and graded via X-ray. Treatment of these depends on the grade and stability. The more stable and the lower the.

Summer back tips Summer is in full swing. Along with the warmer weather and BBQs, come lots of yard work, summer sports and road trips. To try to save you a weekend trip to the chiropractor, I have put together some tips that might help to save your back, while you enjoy your summer. I will blog them weekly. Let me start with some basic anatomy. In the lower back or lumbar spine, there are five vertebrae. These five vertebrae are stacked on each other like blocks. In between each vertebrae are discs. These disc are like cushions that act like shock absorbers and allow motion in the spine. The anatomy of the disc is like a jelly doughnut. In the middle, there is the “jelly” or the nucleus pulposis, the “doughnut is called the annulus fibrosis. Excessive bending, lifting and twisting can cause that nucleus to go backwards and break through the annulus. This is can also be called a disc herniation. Prolonged sitting can also cause disc issues. Some tips for long drives and planes rides include: 1. Try to use a lumbar support pillow. Sitting can flatten out the lower back and puts great.

Motore Vehicle Accident Treatment

For some reason, over the past couple of weeks there has been more motor vehicle accidents here in Longmont, Colorado, then usual. I don’t know if there is just more traffic or are we as drivers more distracted. In any event, seeking early treatment after a motor vehicle accident, is essential for proper healing and a better prognosis. Did you know that a rear end collision at even 7 miles and hour is enough to cause significant whiplash and a post traumatic concussion? Studies show that patients that undergo chiropractic care soon after an injury, can heal faster, return to work sooner, and have better long term outcomes. If you or someone that you know has been in a car accident, make sure to get the injury checked ASAP. We here at Cavallo Chiropractic pride ourselves in being experts in management and treatment of accident related injuries. Most automobile polices also have MedPay. MedPay helps to cover your medical expenses related to your auto accident injuries. If you would like some more information on chiropractic and auto accidents, give us a call at 303-678-8555, or visit our email us at dr.cavallo@gmail.com. Please stay alert and safe while driving. Those text.

Eight Years in Longmont!!

This month marks Cavallo Chiropractic’s eighth year in Longmont, Colorado. We would just like to say thanks to everyone for their love and support in helping us serve so many people. We look forward to the next eight years and beyond.

Pain and What Your Body Is Trying To Tell You

Whether it is sharp, dull, achy or a burn, pain is your body’s way of telling you that there is an issue. Pain is like a check engine light in your car. If your check engine light comes on do you ignore it? Exactly, so do not ignore pain. Usually when pain finally hits, it is because there has been a gradual worsening of a condition, and pain is your body’s way of alerting you so you do not make it any worse. The best way to treat pain is to find out what is causing it. Anti-Inflammatory and pain medication help to mask or cover up the pain, but do not get to the true cause of the issue. Chiropractors, look for the source of your pain. Why do you have it and what caused it to happen. After figuring out the problem, chiropractors work at correcting the source. Stop suffering in pain. Call us at 303-678-8555 and find out what the CAUSE of your pain is, and find a solution.

How to stick with your New Year’ Resolutions

The new year is fast approaching. This is the time of year when we start to make resolutions for the new year. What is you resolution? Is it to lose weight? Cut out sweets? Quit smoking? Whatever it is, it is important to make a plan and so your best to stick with it. Remember, you are only human, so don’t beat yourself up if you get off track. Simply forgive yourself and try again. Here are some simple tips to try to stick to your goals: 1. Write your goals for the new year down. Review them daily and remind yourself of why you are going to do it. 2. How are you going to reach these goals? Write out a game plan. If it is to lose weight, what steps will you take? Write out a menu and a gym schedule. 3. Each week track how well you are doing. If you quit smoking, track how many days it’s been since you had a cigarette. 4.Reward yourself when you reach milestones. If the goal was to lose some weight, buy yourself a nice shirt or pants when you reach the halfway point. These are some simple tips to.

Sitting Fit

We all sit much more then we used to. The computer has made our lives much easier, but this convenience has taken a toll on our spines. In my opinion, we were not designed to sit as long as we do. Prolonged sitting increases the pressure on the discs of the spine, some studies say up to four times the pressure when compared to standing or lying down. Sitting at a computer all day also causes the neck to straighten out and the head to move forward. This condition is called forward head posture. If the spine stays in these altered positions for prolonged periods, it can lead to accelerated arthritis, pain, and dysfunction. Well, what can you do? There are couple of things you can do. Make sure you office chair has proper lumbar support. When you sit, the normal curve in your lower back (lumbar spine) flattens out, this is why the pressure to the disc increases. A good chair with lumbar support will maintain this lumbar curve and take some of the pressure off of the discs. Take frequent breaks. Try to stand up every 30-45 minutes and slowly bend to the sides. You can also do.

Driving in the snow and ice

With the temperatures below freezing and with the recent snow, the roads are slick. There are some things that you can do to try to avoid a car accident. 1. Give yourself plenty of room between you and the other vehicles on the road. 2. make sure your headlights are on at all times. This will make you visible to other drivers. 3. Remember bridges and over passes freeze first so use caution. 4. Always keep your windshield clean and clear snow off off all windows. 5. ALWAYS wear your seat belt! If you are in an accident, a seat belt can save your life.